Welcome! Our department is a place where students and researchers pursue advances in comparative medicine, from basic science discovery through regulatory approval and successful application to human and animal health. We invite you to learn more about our work.

Mission

Instruct veterinary and graduate students in the pre-clinical sciences of gross anatomy, histology, developmental anatomy, neurobiology, physiology, pharmacology and toxicology

Conduct original, cutting-edge research on critical problems of animal, human, and environmental/ecosystem health

Sustain a university-leading program in comparative biomedical training and research

Offer clinical pharmacology and clinical toxicology diagnostic services and engage students in these activities

Participate in leadership and governance of professional and scientific societies as well as of the department, college, and university

Areas of Focus

The majority of our faculty work within several interconnected fields of interest. We bring a broad range of techniques and approaches to bear on these core areas: from micro-RNA to animal and human patient epidemiology to ecological assessments, and from cellular biology to applied clinical pharmacology and toxicology and ecosystem health. Experimental models used in the department vary from stem cells to rodent and frog models to domestic animals, wildlife, and large prospective trials involving human patients.

Reproductive Biology

Current projects: Endocrine/reproductive biology and toxicology; uterine and placental biology; molecular mechanisms of early embryonic development; circadian rhythms in animal models of shift work and jet lag and impact on reproductive health

Developmental and Stem Cell Research

Current projects: Generation of 3D vascularized tissues for total replacement biologic products and other therapeutic purposes in regenerative medicine; the role of PTB (polypyrimidine tract binding protein) in regulating stem-cell-based tissue regeneration

Faculty: Suzanne Berry, Wenyan Mei, MT Valarmathi, Jing Yang

Neurobiology

Current projects: Impact of environmental and dietary compounds on neurodevelopment and on addictive potential of substances of abuse; effects of environmental factors and hormonal influences on cognitive functioning and neurotransmission

Comparative Pharmacology and Toxicology

Current projects: Stem cells for assessment of small molecule and nanoparticle pharmacology and toxicology; the interplay between infectious agents and contaminants with wildlife populations; comparative drug disposition and pharmacokinetics; immunopharmacology and drug allergy; cancer chemotherapy

News Comparative Biosciences News

Two new drug compounds – one of which has already proven useful in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis – appear to be effective in treating endometriosis, a disorder that, like MS, is driven by estrogen and inflammation, scientists report in Science Translational Medicine. The researchers hope to eventually use the new compounds and others like...

Dr. Duncan Ferguson, head of comparative biosciences, and Dr. Margarethe Hoenig, veterinary clinical medicine, recently worked with a TED Ed team to create an educational video entitled “What did dogs teach humans about diabetes?” TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. The description of the video...

Now we can identify the infections earlier, we can intervene earlier and we can potentially increase our success of treatment or therapy. Researchers have developed a faster and more accurate way to test for infection with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, a fungus that is killing snakes in the Midwest and eastern United States. The test also allows...